Naming the Unnameable: An Approach to Poetry for New Generations

by Michelle Bonczek Evory

Informed by a writing philosophy that values both spontaneity and discipline, Michelle Bonczek Evory’s Naming the An Approach to Poetry for New Generations offers practical advice and strategies for developing a writing process that is centered on play and supported by an understanding of America’s rich literary traditions. With consideration to the psychology of invention, Bonczek Evory provides students with exercises aimed to make writing in its early stages a form of play that gives way to more enriching insights through revision, embracing the writing of poetry as both a love of language and a tool that enables us to explore ourselves and better understand the world. The volume includes resources for students seeking to publish and build a writing-centered lifestyle or career. Poets featured range in age, subject, and style, and many are connected to colleges in the State University of New York system. Naming the Unnameable promotes an understanding of poetry as a living art of which students are a part, and provides ways for students to involve themselves in the growing contemporary poetry community that thrives in America today.

189 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2018

Reviews

[Jessie Rose M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent—and FREE—introductory text for students of poetry. I and two colleagues are using it for our Intro to Poetry courses at the undergraduate level, and my students have loved the accessible approach as well as the relevant (and fun!) exercises in the book.

There are a few mistakes, and there are some poems that I’m not sure I would have included, but any instructor should be guiding students through the book and choosing better replacement poems (I realize publishing a text like this can leave limited options for including the best poems).

I’m really happy with this textbook and grateful that it is available in so many formats as an open-access resource for my students.